

KCET 2026 is an annual state-level entrance examination conducted for admission into engineering, agriculture, pharmacy, and other professional courses in Karnataka. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) manages the entire process, including registration, exam schedule, admit card release, result, and counselling.
Many students begin their preparation early because KCET 2026 decides admission opportunities in prominent institutions across the state. Provided here is a complete and clear explanation of KCET 2026, covering its registration, eligibility, dates, syllabus, exam pattern, exam centres, admit card, result, and counselling procedure.
KCET 2026 is officially known as the Karnataka Common Entrance Test. The exam takes place once every year in offline mode. KCET 2026 covers subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology, depending on the course selected. The exam duration is 4 hours, and candidates must attempt objective-type questions.
| KCET 2026 Overview | |
| Parameter | Details |
| Full Exam Name | Karnataka Common Entrance Test |
| Exam Level | State Level |
| Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Exam Duration | 4 Hours |
| Language | English + Kannada |
| Number of Participating Colleges | 217 |
| Frequency | Once a Year |
KCET Registration 2026 is the first step for students planning to appear for the examination. The registration window is expected to open in the first week of January 2026. Candidates must complete the online form, upload documents, and pay the application fee before the last date. KCET Registration 2026 requires accurate personal details, academic information, and category details. Any mistake may lead to corrections later during the application correction window.
The registration process will take place only on the official KEA website. Students must keep their Class 10 and Class 12 documents ready before starting the KCET Registration 2026 process. Those applying under special categories must also upload additional certificates as required by KEA.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority will release the KCET 2026 exam dates on the official website. Based on the expected schedule, the KCET 2026 Important Dates are as follows:
| KCET 2026 Important Dates | |
| Event | Tentative Dates |
| Application Starts | 1st Week of January 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 3rd Week of February 2026 |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 3rd Week of February 2026 |
| Application Correction | After Last Date |
| Admit Card Release | 1st Week of April 2026 |
| KCET 2026 Exam Date | 2nd Week of April 2026 |
| Answer Key Release | Last Week of April 2026 |
| Result Announcement | 2nd Week of May 2026 |
| Counselling Starts | 1st Week of June 2026 |
KCET 2026 eligibility criteria depend on the course selected. Candidates must meet qualification, marks requirement, subject combination, and appearing criteria for the exam.
| KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria | |||||
| Course | Qualification | Marks Required | Subjects Required | Appearing Criteria | Additional Requirement |
| B.Tech | Passed Class 12 | 45% (General) | Physics, Maths + Chemistry/Biology/CS | Class 12 appearing allowed | N/A |
| B.Arch | Passed 12 or 3-yr Diploma | N/A | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics | Class 12 appearing allowed | Valid NATA Score |
| B.Pharm | Passed Class 12 | 45% (General) | Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Maths | Class 12 appearing allowed | N/A |
| B.V.Sc & A.H | Passed Class 12 | 50% for General | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English | Class 12 appearing allowed | N/A |
KCET 2026 Application Form will be available online. Candidates must upload recent photographs, signatures, category certificates, and academic documents. The KCET 2026 application fee can be paid through UPI, debit card, credit card, bank transfer, or demand draft.
Expected Application Fee Structure:
| KCET 2026 Application Form | |
| Category | Fee |
| Karnataka Residents (GM/2A/2B/3A/3B) | Rs. 500 |
| Karnataka SC/ST Category-1 | Rs. 250 |
| Outside Karnataka Candidates | Rs. 750 |
| International Candidates | Rs. 5,000 |
Follow the steps below to fill the KCET Application Form 2026:
Visit the official KEA website.
Click on the “KCET 2026 Registration” link.
Create a new user account by entering mobile number and email.
Log in using the generated credentials.
Fill the KCET 2026 application with personal and academic details.
Select the course preferences and exam centre.
Upload scanned documents in the required size and format.
Pay the application fee online.
Submit the form and take a printout for future use.
KCET 2026 exam pattern consists of objective-type questions. The exam covers subjects based on the selected stream.
Subject-wise Marks Distribution
Here, subject-wise marks distribution is mentioned so that candidates can prioritize their preparation.
| Subject-wise Marks Distribution | |
| Subject | Marks |
| Physics | 60 |
| Chemistry | 60 |
| Mathematics/Biology | 60 |
Detailed KCET 2026 Exam Pattern
Mentioned here is the KCET 2026 Exam pattern in complete detail for students to understand the weightage:
| Detailed KCET 2026 Exam Pattern | |
| Aspect | Details |
| Total Marks | 180 |
| Mode | Offline |
| Type of Questions | Objective |
| Duration | 1 hour 20 minutes per subject |
| Negative Marking | No |
KCET 2026 syllabus is based on the 1st PUC and 2nd PUC science curriculum. The main subjects include:
| KCET 2026 Syllabus | |
| Subject | Syllabus Topics |
| Physics | Physical World, Units and Measurement, Motion in a Straight Line, Gravitation, Thermodynamics, Oscillations, Current Electricity, Magnetism |
| Chemistry | Basic Concepts of Chemistry, Structure of Atom, Chemical Bonding, Organic Chemistry, Redox Reactions, Polymers, Biomolecules |
| Mathematics | Sets and Functions, Algebra, Calculus, Coordinate Geometry, Probability |
| Biology | Diversity in Living World, Plant Physiology, Human Physiology, Genetics, Biotechnology |
KCET 2026 exam timings will be released along with the admit card. Usually, the exam is conducted over two days. Expected timing pattern:
| KCET 2026 Exam Timings | |
| Subject | Expected Time |
| Biology | Morning Session |
| Mathematics | Afternoon Session |
| Physics | Morning Session |
| Chemistry | Afternoon Session |
KCET 2026 exam centres are located across Karnataka. Candidates can choose their preferred exam centre while filling the application form.
| KCET 2026 Exam Centres | |
| S.No. | KCET 2026 Exam Centres |
| 1 | Bengaluru |
| 2 | Mysuru |
| 3 | Mangalore |
| 4 | Udupi |
| 5 | Hubli |
| 6 | Dharwad |
| 7 | Belagavi |
| 8 | Tumkur |
| 9 | Shivamogga |
| 10 | Raichur |
| 11 | Davangere |
| 12 | Ballari |
| 13 | Hassan |
| 14 | Mandya |
| 15 | Chitradurga |
KCET Admit Card 2026 will be available in the first week of April 2026. Candidates can download it using their application number and date of birth. The admit card contains the exam date, exam centre, exam timings, and instructions. Without the KCET Admit Card 2026, candidates cannot enter the exam hall.
KCET Result 2026 will be released in the second week of May 2026 on the KEA website. Candidates can download the scorecard using their login ID. Along with results, KEA will also publish the merit list based on subject scores.Candidates must verify the details mentioned in the KCET Result 2026, such as name, rank, and subject marks.
KCET Counselling Date 2026 is expected to begin in the first week of June 2026. The counselling process includes:
Document verification
Choice filling
Seat allotment
Fee payment
College reporting
Candidates must follow the counselling instructions carefully to secure admission in professional courses.